Maine Explores Interconnectivity

OCTOBER 01, 2005

Medical experts from the Maine Health Information
Center are investigating how technology
can provide greater efficiency in the state's health
care system. The nonprofit group is working on a
paperless records system that would allow
authorized physicians and other clinicians to have
instant access to their patients' medical records
from any computer.

The clinical information-sharing infrastructure
under consideration would involve a system that
would allow for secure and direct point-of-care
sharing of vital patient-specific clinical information
with the following goals:

An electronic medical records system would
allow for a thorough assessment of patient information,
especially if patients see multiple physicians.
Information on recent medical procedures,
drug allergies, and problem conditions would be
available instantly in case of an emergency.